Chapter 269: Perish Together

Lin!

A familiar voice reached Yeyuan Lin's ear.

Upon hearing that voice, her anxious heart seemed to find a safe harbor, and her spirits lifted considerably.

Come on! It's safe now!

Hearing that voice, Yeyuan Lin prepared to leave her hiding place.

Being a medical ninja, she was intimately familiar with the feel of chakra, let alone the voice's owner—her long‑time companion, someone she had constantly thought of and grown up with since childhood.

You're not Kakashi!

Noticing something off with Lin, she flicked her wrist and threw a barrage of kunai toward the direction the voice came from, at the same time preparing to rise and leave that treetop hideout.

Since her position was exposed, it was best to move quickly.

But before she could move, a flash of silver blade light stabbed toward her back.

"'So the voice just now was merely a distraction to divert my attention, huh?'"

Seeing the ninja blade within arm's reach and sensing its wielder's undisguised killing intent, Yeyuan Lin felt she was truly doomed this time.

But that's fine too; if I die, I can keep company with that idiot Daitou.

If I weren't there watching him, that idiot wouldn't know how much trouble he'd cause or what mistakes he'd make.

Pff!

Ah!

Just as Yeyuan Lin closed her eyes awaiting death, a sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out, followed by a short scream and a strong smell of blood.

Kakashi! Is it really you?

Opening her eyes, Yeyuan Lin saw Kakashi's figure, with a Mist Ninja Anbu fallen beside him.

Lin! Come with me quickly, this place isn't safe...

At the critical moment, Kakashi finally arrived beside Yeyuan Lin just before she was killed, slaying the Mist Ninja at her feet.

At the same time he extended his left hand, intending to pull Yeyuan Lin out from the bushes and then lead her away from the area.

Although Dong Shilang blocked most of the Mist Ninja, many enemies still slipped past him and rushed toward this area.

But he was confident he could handle them alone.

"'What's going on...'"

Seeing the wary Lin, Kakashi blinked, then lifted the forehead protector hanging over his left eye, revealing Daitou's eye.

It really is you!

Seeing Daitou's eye, Lin, who had been hesitant and worried this was another Mist Ninja trap, finally confirmed the newcomer's identity and emerged from her hiding place.

Kakashi, what about Senior Dong Shilang?

Being led by his hand while fleeing at high speed, Yeyuan Lin still didn't forget to ask about her savior's condition.

Don't worry! Dong Shilang is strong; these Mist Ninja aren't his match~

Seeming afraid Lin would worry, Kakashi didn't forget to offer a word of comfort.

Once we reach a safe place, he'll find his own way here!

That would be best! But Kakashi, we can't return to the village!

Given her current situation, she truly couldn't go back to the village, and she didn't know whether those Mist Ninja had prepared any backup; if something went wrong, it would be disastrous.

All right!

After thinking it over carefully, Kakashi led Lin in a different escape direction.

Now that he had Dong Shilang as strong support, he also had the means to stall for a while and properly contend with those relentless Mist Ninja.

"'I just don't know when the teacher will arrive!'"

He touched the Flying Thunder God Kunai in his ninja tool pouch, and Kakashi felt a twinge of unease; although he was under Dong Shilang's cover and had slain those Mist Ninja attempting to use some unknown technique,

But Lin's situation was not optimistic!

……

Meanwhile.

Dong Shilang was already being driven to distraction by those few Mist Ninja ahead of him.

As the saying goes: the soft fear the hard, the hard fear the bold, the bold fear the mad, and the mad fear the fearless.

The Mist Ninja before him were all fearless fanatics, each carrying a smoking explosive tag, charging at you, ready to die together; who wouldn't be afraid?

Cough! Cough! Cough!

After barely dodging a series of explosions, Dong Shilang was shaken and coughed repeatedly.

"'My internal organs must have been shaken injured!'"

Based on his knowledge of his own body, a slight sensation told him his internal organs had been injured by that shockwave.

But the Mist Ninja opposite gave him no chance to breathe, wildly charging at him.

Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Flame Bomb

Ninja Art: Hand Sword Shadow Clone

Fire Release: Dragon Flame Chant Technique

After barely gaining distance from the explosions using their aftermath, how could Dong Shilang dare to engage those Mist Ninja in close combat?

He directly unleashed three handy area‑of‑effect ninjutsu, hoping to fight those Mist Ninja at mid‑ to long range.

These Mist Ninja have no sense of honor; they're impossible to provoke!

Water Release: Water Shockwave

The leading Mist Ninja unleashed a large‑scale Water Release technique, bringing his subordinates to charge at Dong Shilang.

Now it's not like before; they needn't hold back at all—even if the enemy's close combat is fierce, they have no fear and can unleash ninjutsu without reservation.

Moreover, having these water stains under their feet also makes it more advantageous for themselves and their companions to launch a sneak attack; when the Mist Ninja fight, without a water source it's as if they're missing something.

You lunatic!

Even if you don't think for yourself, you should at least think for your subordinates—they all have wives and children; if they just die pointlessly, the lives of those old, weak, women and children won't be easy.

Seeing the Mist Ninja relentless, Dong Shilang, who felt Kakashi and his group should have already gone far, started his own Mouth Escape again.

However, he obviously lacked the talent for the ultimate Ninjutsu, 'Mouth Escape'.

Mission failed, lost the Three-Tails, died here—for them, that's the best ending!

It seemed he was afraid his subordinates would be shaken by the local dialect, so the Mist Ninja Leader again emphasized their ending.

If they come back alive, that would be the real disaster for their families!

Sensing the Mist Ninja quickly approaching from the flood beneath their feet, and the hand signs in the opponent's hands, Dong Shilang could only fight while withdrawing, trying to slowly wear down their numbers.

Much time passed.

When the Mist Ninja Leader, using an opening created by his subordinates, tightly embraced Dong Shilang in his arms.

He ignored the ninja sword piercing his chest, happily detonated the explosive tag on his body, and dragged the guy who ruined his mission to mutual destruction.

Boom—!!

A violent explosion and flames engulfed the silhouettes of the two of them.